At present, depression among the elderly accounts for about 5% of the total number of elderly people in China, anxiety among the elderly also accounts for about 5%, dementia accounts for nearly 5%, and insomnia reaches 42.8% of the elderly. nearly 30% of the elderly over 50 years old suffer from depression, mania and other mental illnesses. Feeling lonely, having few children, suffering from chronic diseases and the death of a loved one, especially a partner, are the three main causes of depression in the elderly. A statistical analysis of 35,000 calls for psychological help from the elderly showed that more than 40% of the elderly living alone have a tendency to depression, 48% of which are caused by the loneliness of the elderly living alone for a long time. Depression among the elderly is mostly caused by loneliness. Empty nesters, especially the widowed elderly living alone, are very prone to loneliness. Moreover, most elderly people suffer from chronic diseases and are under both physical and mental stress. After retirement, poor relationship with children, especially poor relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, is also a trigger for many depressed elderly people. article
11 things trigger the health crisis in old age
As they age, the elderly will encounter more health risks. A new article in Medical Daily published by Connecticut health expert Joseph K. Goldberg, Ph. Dr. Joseph Goldberg, a Connecticut health expert, summarized the “factors that trigger health crises in the elderly and recommendations.
1. Vitamin B12 deficiency. The elderly have a reduced ability to digest and absorb vitamin B12, which can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. Typical symptoms are lethargy and weakness. It is recommended that the elderly receive a vitamin B12 blood test. If it is low, they should improve their diet and take oral supplements according to medical advice.
2. Decline in sex hormones. Older men have lower levels of the sex hormone testosterone, which can easily lead to greatly reduced sexual interest, depression and erectile dysfunction. It is recommended to receive testosterone blood test, and if necessary, replacement therapy should be used.
3. Thyroid disease. Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism in the elderly include: chilliness, weakness and palpitations. Geriatric hypothyroidism predisposes to constipation and fatigue, drowsiness, and memory loss. Geriatric thyroid disease can easily be misdiagnosed as a bowel or neurological disorder. It is recommended to seek immediate medical attention when symptoms are suspected. It is even more important to check if there is a person with thyroid disease in the immediate family.
4. Joint pain. Older adults are more likely to have chronic pain such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Chronic pain can lead to a 3-fold increase in the risk of depression or anxiety disorders. Depression in turn can aggravate the pain, forming a vicious circle. Seniors are advised to practice yoga, meditate regularly or listen to music. Listening to one hour of classical music a day can relieve arthritis pain.
5, empty nest. The “empty nest” is prone to many psychological problems in the elderly. The elderly should strengthen communication with spouses, other family members and friends, develop new hobbies, and actively go out of the house, the most important thing is not to stay at home.
6, retirement. Premature retirement can lead to depression and frustration among the elderly. Factors such as unstable economic income and lack of social support are the reasons why retirement is anxiety-provoking. Retirement is one of the secrets of the elderly to stay happy. After retirement, you can learn new skills such as foreign languages, travel often, visit museums or watch movies, etc.
7. alcoholism. After a stressful change such as retirement or widowhood, some elderly people develop alcohol dependence. Alcohol abuse increases the risk of chronic diseases in the elderly and is recommended to be treated by medication.
8, insomnia. As we age, insomnia and other sleep disorders become more common. Long-term insomnia can accelerate the decline of the elderly brain. It is recommended to develop regular sleep habits, but also regular exercise, to avoid caffeine, alcohol or nicotine interference with sleep.
9, high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke and many other diseases. In addition, certain antihypertensive drugs can also increase depression or other mood changes. It is recommended to improve lifestyle and take antihypertensive drugs as prescribed by your doctor.
10. Cognitive impairment disorder. The significant symptom of cognitive impairment is forgetfulness or memory loss. It is recommended to go to the hospital to confirm the diagnosis of suspicious symptoms, once diagnosed and treated early.
11, grief. The death of a spouse or loved one may lead to extreme grief in the elderly and may even develop into depression. Symptoms of geriatric depression include: poor memory, confusion and disassociation. Geriatric depression can increase the risk of death from heart disease. It is recommended to vent grief in moderation, talk to friends and get more social support.
Symptoms
Low, slow, and lazy are signs of depression. Children should pay extra attention when the elderly show three states such as low, slow and lazy. Low” means depressed, depressed, wanting to cry, feeling that life is meaningless, and even the idea of not wanting to live; “slow” means that the brain feels slow to respond, memory loss; “lazy” is not willing to do anything, do not want to go out, and do not want to carry out recreational activities, just want to lie in bed.
Depression can also bring about some physical reactions. Such as chest tightness, breath-holding, weakness, hand trembling, general numbness and pain, etc., as well as poor eating, weight loss, insomnia, irritability, panic and fidgeting. The most important thing is that these diseases have no cause and no basis of organic pathology. It is important to judge depression not only by the appearance of the above symptoms, but also by the appearance of the above symptoms for more than 2 weeks, when it is necessary to take the elderly to the hospital in time.
How can we regulate the mood of the elderly and reduce the occurrence of depression? First of all, we advocate the elderly to exercise more, including appropriate physical exercise and the ability to do housework and social activities, and pay attention to the appropriate alternation of mental and physical activities. Secondly, maintain optimism and learn to adapt to society. Older people should develop their own hobbies and interests and learn to entertain themselves. There is no good or bad interest, what suits you is the best. In addition, good interpersonal relationship is also an important factor to maintain mental health.
I. Self-treatment
1, self-treatment of elderly depression: when the elderly appear sad, depressed mood should try to encourage patients to do some things that usually interested to divert their attention, so that they gradually forget the unpleasant things, mood gradually cheer up. For example, listen to music, watch theater, take a walk, play Tai Chi, etc. can be adjusted.
2, self-treatment of depression in the elderly: the elderly should pay attention to a balanced nutrition in the diet, mainly to the preferences of the elderly. But we should pay attention to drink more water, avoid smoking and alcohol, avoid spicy and stimulating food, closely observe the patient’s food and water intake, and observe and record the patient’s bowel movement.
3, self-treatment of geriatric depression: adhere to the medication family members should strictly follow the doctor’s orders for the elderly to take w. Do not arbitrarily increase or decrease w things, the situation can be reflected to the doctor, and not because w things adverse reactions and stop taking, so as not to cause the treatment of poor results.
4, self-treatment of elderly depression: attention should be paid to avoid mental stimulation, children and family members because of the attention not to stimulate the elderly, maintain family harmony, do not encounter things and the elderly from, arguments, do not quarrel with the elderly. Do not just blame the elderly after they have done something wrong, so as not to cause the elderly psychological depression yin
Second, mental health care
First, the heart is clear and open, contented and happy. We developed in the long-term geriatrics study, long-lived elderly people are often able to achieve to open-minded, enthusiastic, understanding, they do not compete with the world, it is not easy to dynamic, feel their lives are very full, satisfied.
Second, face reality, out of the misunderstanding. Older people should actively and moderately participate in some social activities, cultivate a wide range of interests (such as secretary law, music, drama, painting, raising flowers, stamp collecting, etc.), to cultivate sentiment, deal with all aspects of interpersonal relationships (including family members, friends and relatives, etc.), to do with the crowd, like to be “urchins”.
Thirdly. Make friends (including teenage friends, friends of the opposite sex), often talk. Older people will inevitably encounter some unpleasant things, often in the soulmate friends to vent their frustration, mutual comfort, exchange wistful, help to relax, to maintain mental balance plays an important role.